The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-17
BLOCKADE RUNNING.
EXPERIENCE OF A CLYDE STEAMER
ON THE CAPE FEAR COAST.

ENFEntESSc VT ~ Vii GS y CF'uIsh
ON THE CAPE FEAR COAST.
Trying to Pass Through the New Inlet.
"A Gordon Of Cruisers on Guard-Besch-
ing tho Vessel and Setting Hc1 on
Fire. e4
Our. forty-eight-hour trip was uninter-
rupted by Union cruisers, and we reached
the Cape Fear offing about midnight. The
blockading squadron, we had learned in
Nassau, had been largely increased, and
the captain, officers and pilot were on the
qui vive. There was NO moon, but the
stars were shining, contingency which
had been counted upon. All was expecta-
tion not unmiXed with trepidation on
board the Corn Rigs. Even the beautiful
lady passenger, who had not made her ap-
pearnnce on deck since she came on board
at Nassau, came out on deck and peered
through the night glass galmntly rendered
by the captain.
Il seemed as though every yard of space
was guarded by the blockading squadron
that night. Three times the Corn Rigs In
trying to pass through the new inlet had
TO turn back when on the point Of running
directly into cruiser.
The captain, needing not the advice Of
the pilot, resolved on a bold dash. The
cruisers had drawn near the shore and
made Gordon around the mouth Of the
new inlet.
Boom! A long, sullen roar from an
Armstrong gun at the Mound battery
told the cruisers that they were too near.
The fiery, screaming shell passed over the
inside line Of cruisers and only missed the
Corn Rigs by few feet.
stGiye her more steam, - was the cup
tain's command by muf1ed bell to the en-
gineer. The runner slipped between two
cruisers unobserved, when the way was
stopped by third, which fired two shots
ii rapid succession. Away, like O fox
pursued by pack of dogs, rushed the
Clyde steamer to the north. Then turn
ing almost a complete circle, she again
pluckily essayed an entrance.
In vain. Blue lights were burning on
half dozen quarter decks; a dozen rock
cts went up In cir and the roar Of dozen
guns added to the excitement Of the scene.
a shell struck the smokestack, tearing 1t
half away. The frightened lady ran on
deck and tainted in the captains arms.
4 ssHead her round the Frying Fan to the
SOUTH" shouted the captain, as he con-
veyed the lady to her stateroom, where
her colored servant lay on the floor.
3, It was 1 o'clock and there was not
much darkness to spare. In an hour
and q. half .afterward the Corn Rigs es-
saved the southern inlet, the distance
being. reduced. by the plots knowledge Of
an, intricate passage through the shoals.
| The captain recklessly headed for the inlet
at once. The night glasses showed that
he must pass O cruiser, but he steered his
boat directly for 1t. Outside two more
were bearing in from the east, and adj
vanced behind us. Lying close to shore,
but nearer the forts than the Corn Rigs,
was another, quietly waiting to gobble us
,up. The gray dawn YVES breaking slowly.
We were in the tolls.
MClear away the boats
That meant that the Corn Rigs was to
be beached, and I sprang to help. We
were close to shore and the firing was In
cessant.
Bang, bang; whirr, whirrl
"D-n theml'' said the captain bitterly;
tsthey are firing grape shop at us. But
they Hhan't capture this boat
j Two barrels Of turpentine slowed for
ward behind the cable were smashed in
with an az, and the hmpid liquid flooded
the decks. Meanwhile one boat, smashed
to pieces by grape shot, was cleared away
and. two others lowered. Officers and
AnaG crowded Into them, Abner, the
pilot, with blood streaming down his face
from q splinter wound, worked the helm
30 o1a11,r n, nm 40 c17ro ovor1ro{nY, ~
s'Comel'' impatiently said the captain
as myself and the mate hauled the Lady
and her servant into the. boat. The other
boat was on its way to the shore.
ttAll right" said the pilot, Jumping
down.
ssCrackr' The first mate had fired hia
pistol into the turpentine. A fierce and
sudden blaze enyeloped the steamer from
stem to stern, as she drove head foremost
on the beach. The. cruisers, ;enraged at
the loss of the rich prize almost within
their Z grasp, commenced firing with In
creased rapidity.
Bangl ,bangl bangl
The water all around the boat was
cchurned almost into foam by the grape
shot. A shot killed one Of the men, and I
took hold Of his oar, with my feet on his
bleeding corpse. In few seconds we
were son the beach, beside the burning
vessel. Everybody jumped into the surf,
and the captain and I carried the lady
ashore. The servant was carried ashore,
Also h,s e}p ~ os
II II 'clar', boss, you is on trouble. :"
turned and saw a negro, seated on one
OF the. two wheeled, one mule wagons OF
I that region.
'sYou are black angel from heaven"
said to the colored man. II wish the
lady conveyed to some house."
Two or three boats from the cruiser
were already at the burning vessel. We
drove hurriedly to Smithville, where q
better conveyance landed US in Whining
ton. Before dark had the pleasure Of
handing the lady over to her husband,
Maj. Sheldon, Georgian officer Of good
family. Free Press. :.